Personal protective equipment

ABSTRACT

Personal protective equipment is for use by a user. The personal protective equipment includes a garment assembly and a pocket assembly each configured to be thermally insulated and fire resistant. The pocket assembly spans across a bone joint of the user once the user wears the garment assembly. The pocket assembly is configured to securely receive an armour member in such a way that the armour member spans across the bone joint of the user, and the armour member is securely positioned across the bone joint of the user. This improves protection of the bone joint against bone-joint injury resulting from a sudden impact force received by the armour member. A touch fastener assembly is configured to selectively securely open and close the pocket assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to the technical field of (and is not limited to) personal protective equipment for use by a user having a bone joint.

BACKGROUND

Personal protective equipment refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed (configured) to protect the wearer's body from injury and/or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, electrical, heat, chemicals, biohazards, and airborne particulate matter. Protective equipment may be worn for job-related occupational safety. Protective clothing refers to traditional categories of clothing, and protective gear refers to items such as pads, guards, shields, or masks, and others.

SUMMARY

It will be appreciated that there exists a need to mitigate (at least in part) at least one problem associated with existing personal protective equipment (also called the existing technology). After much study of the known systems and methods with experimentation, an understanding of the problem and its solution has been identified and is articulated as follows:

The purpose of personal protective equipment is to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective to reduce these risks to acceptable levels. Personal protective equipment is needed when there are hazards present. Personal protective equipment has the serious limitation that it does not eliminate the hazard at source and may result in employees being exposed to the hazard if the equipment fails.

Personal protective equipment imposes a barrier between the wearer (user) and the working environment, which may create additional strains on the wearer, such as: impairing their ability to carry out their work and creating significant levels of discomfort (for the user). Any of these issues may discourage wearers (users) from using the personal protective equipment correctly, placing them at risk of injury, ill-health or, under extreme circumstances, death.

Practices of occupational health and safety may use hazard controls and interventions to mitigate workplace hazards, which pose a threat to the safety and quality of life of workers. The hierarchy of hazard control provides a policy framework that ranks the types of hazard controls in terms of absolute risk reduction. At the top of the hierarchy are elimination and substitution, which remove the hazard entirely or replace the hazard with a safer alternative. If elimination or substitution measures cannot apply, engineering controls and administrative controls, which seek to design safer mechanisms and coach safer human behavior, are implemented. Personal protective equipment ranks last on the hierarchy of controls, as the workers are regularly exposed to the hazard, with a barrier of protection. The hierarchy of controls is important in acknowledging that, while personal protective equipment has tremendous utility, it is not the desired mechanism of control in terms of worker safety.

What appears to be lacking is personal protective equipment for protecting a bone joint of the user wearing personal protective equipment. What is needed is personal protective equipment that improves (at least in part) protection of the bone joint against bone joint injury resulting from a sudden impact force received by the bone joint of the user of the personal protective equipment, while the personal protective equipment provides other forms of protection for the user.

To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with the existing technology, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) personal protective equipment. The personal protective equipment is for use by a user having a bone joint, and for use with an armour member (a physical protection device) configured to span across the bone joint.

The personal protective equipment includes a garment assembly configured to be thermally insulated and fire resistant. The garment assembly is also configured to be worn by the user in such a way that the garment assembly (in use) spans across the bone joint of the user. A pocket assembly is configured to be thermally insulated and fire resistant. The pocket assembly is spatially positioned on and affixed to the garment assembly in such a way that the pocket assembly (in use) spans across the bone joint of the user once the user wears (in use) the garment assembly. The pocket assembly is configured to securely receive the armour member in such a way that once the user (in use) wears the garment assembly and once the pocket assembly (in use) receives the armour member: (A) the armour member spans across the bone joint of the user, and (B) the armour member is securely positioned across the bone joint of the user (thereby improving protection of the bone joint against bone-joint injury resulting from a sudden impact force received by the armour member). The pocket assembly is also configured to make direct contact with the sudden impact force received by the user in such a way that: (A) the armour member never directly receives the sudden impact force while the armour member is received by the pocket assembly, and (B) the pocket assembly directly receives the sudden impact force that is transferred from the pocket assembly to the armour member. The pocket assembly includes a wear-resistant material configured to resist wear (for instance, as a result of the pocket assembly receiving the sudden impact force). A touch fastener assembly is fixedly coupled to any one of the pocket assembly and the garment assembly. The touch fastener assembly is configured to selectively securely open and close the pocket assembly in such a way that the armour member that is received in the pocket assembly is securely retained in the pocket assembly and is securely spatially positioned to span across the bone joint of the user. The touch fastener assembly is also configured to selectively open and close the pocket assembly in such a way that the armour member that is securely received in the pocket assembly is entirely removable from the pocket assembly.

Other aspects are identified in the claims.

Other aspects and features of the non-limiting embodiments may now become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The non-limiting embodiments may be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of an embodiment of personal protective equipment for use by a user;

FIG. 2 depicts a front view of an embodiment of the personal protective equipment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a rear view of an embodiment of the personal protective equipment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a rear close-up view of an embodiment of the personal protective equipment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 depicts a front close-up view of an embodiment of the personal protective equipment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 depicts a rear close-up view of an embodiment of the personal protective equipment of FIG. 1.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details unnecessary for an understanding of the embodiments (and/or details that render other details difficult to perceive) may have been omitted.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several figures of the drawings. Elements in the several figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not been drawn to scale. The dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for facilitating an understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. In addition, common, but well-understood, elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted to provide a less obstructed view of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

LISTING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS

-   -   100 personal protective equipment     -   102 garment assembly     -   104 pocket assembly     -   106 touch fastener assembly     -   108 body section     -   110 leg sections     -   112 arm sections     -   114 light-reflective elements     -   900 user     -   901 bone joint     -   902 armour member     -   904 sudden impact force

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims. For the description, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the examples as oriented in the drawings. There is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory in the preceding Technical Field, Background, Summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are exemplary embodiments (examples), aspects and/or concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. It is understood that the phrase “at least one” is equivalent to “a”. The aspects (examples, alterations, modifications, options, variations, embodiments and/or any equivalent thereof) are described regarding the drawings. It should be understood that the invention is limited to the subject matter provided by the claims, and that the invention is not limited to the particular aspects depicted and described.

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of an embodiment of personal protective equipment 100 for use by a user 900.

The personal protective equipment 100 is for use by a user 900 having a bone joint 901. The personal protective equipment 100 is also for use with an armour member 902 configured to span across the bone joint 901 of the user 900 (once the armour member 902 is positioned to do just so). For instance, the bone joint 901 includes (and is not limited to) any one of an elbow bone joint, a knee bone joint, a hip bone joint, a rib bone joint, etc., and/or any equivalent thereof. For instance, the armour member 902 includes (and is not limited to) any one of a sheet of plastic material, a leather material, a metal plate, a composite material, and in any combination and/or permutation, and/or any equivalent thereof. The armour member 902 is configured to provide a protective covering that is configured to prevent (at least in part) damage from being inflicted on the bone joint 901 of the user 900, and/or any other part of the user 900.

The personal protective equipment 100 includes (and is not limited to) a synergistic combination of a garment assembly 102, a pocket assembly 104 and a touch fastener assembly 106. More specifically, the garment assembly 102 is configured to be thermally insulated and fire resistant. For instance, the garment assembly 102 includes a thermal insulation layer (preferably, having a thermal-insulation fabric) and/or a fire-resistant layer (preferably, having a fire-resistant fabric material) placed over the thermal insulation layer. The thermal insulation layer is configured to resist the flow of heat (thereby keeping the user 900 relatively safe from excessive heat for at least some time until the user 900 may escape to a safer place). The fire-resistant layer is configured to resist burning and/or withstand heat. The garment assembly 102 is also configured to be worn by the user 900 (this is done in such a way that the garment assembly 102 (in use) spans across the bone joint 901 of the user 900).

More specifically, the pocket assembly 104 is configured to be thermally insulated and fire resistant. For instance, the pocket assembly 104 includes a thermal insulation layer (preferably, having a thermal-insulation fabric) and/or a fire-resistant layer (preferably, having a fire-resistant fabric material) placed over the thermal insulation layer. The pocket assembly 104 is spatially positioned on, and affixed to, the garment assembly 102 (this is done in such a way that the pocket assembly 104 (in use) spans across the bone joint 901 of the user 900 once the user 900 wears (in use) the garment assembly 102).

The pocket assembly 104 is configured to securely receive (at least in part) the armour member 902. This is done in such a way that once the user 900 (in use) wears the garment assembly 102 and once the pocket assembly 104 (in use) receives the armour member 902: (A) the armour member 902 spans across the bone joint 901 of the user 900, and (B) the armour member 902 is securely positioned across (preferably, across and over) the bone joint 901 of the user 900. This arrangement (thereby) improves (at least in part) protection of the bone joint 901 against bone joint injury that may result from a sudden impact force 904 received by the armour member 902 (that is, while the armour member 902 is received by the pocket assembly 104, and while the garment assembly 102 is worn by the user 900). The pocket assembly 104 is also configured to make direct contact with the sudden impact force 904 received by the user 900. This is done in such a way that: (A) the armour member 902 never directly receives the sudden impact force 904 (while the armour member 902 is received by the pocket assembly 104), and (B) the pocket assembly 104 directly receives the sudden impact force 904 that is transferred from the pocket assembly 104 to the armour member 902. This arrangement prevents wear or degradation of the armour member 902, thereby maintaining the integrity of the armour member 902 (for the case where the armour member 902 is required to protect the bone joint 901 of the user 900). The pocket assembly 104 includes a wear-resistant material configured to resist wear (for the case where, or as a result of, the pocket assembly 104 receives the sudden impact force 904, for instance). The wear-resistant material may include a wear-resistant fabric material, a wear-resistant component, and/or any equivalent thereof.

The touch fastener assembly 106 is fixedly coupled (connected) to any one of the pocket assembly 104 and the garment assembly 102. For instance, the touch fastener assembly 106 includes mating portions that may be positioned on the pocket assembly 104 and the garment assembly 102, etc. Preferably, the touch fastener assembly 106 is configured to be thermally insulated and fire resistant. For instance, the touch fastener assembly 106 includes a thermal insulation layer (preferably, having a thermal-insulation fabric) and/or a fire-resistant layer (preferably, having a fire-resistant fabric material) placed over the thermal insulation layer. For instance, the touch fastener assembly 106 includes any one of a snap fastener, a zipper, a VELCRO (TRADEMARK) connector, in any combination and permutation thereof, and/or any equivalent thereof. The touch fastener assembly 106 is configured to selectively securely open and close the pocket assembly 104 (this is done in such a way that the armour member 902 that is received in the pocket assembly 104 is securely retained in the pocket assembly 104 and is securely spatially positioned to span across the bone joint 901 of the user 900). The touch fastener assembly 106 is also configured to selectively open (and close) the pocket assembly 104. This is done in such a way that the armour member 902 that is securely received in the pocket assembly 104 is entirely removable from the pocket assembly 104 (in such a way that another instance of the armour member 902 may be inserted into the pocket assembly 104, etc.).

In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the garment assembly 102 includes a coverall garment, and/or any equivalent thereof. The garment assembly 102 includes a body section 108 with leg sections 110 and arm sections 112 extending from the body section 108. The body section 108 may cover a substantial portion of the upper torso of the user 900.

In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, an instance of the pocket assembly 104 is positioned on the body section 108 of the garment assembly 102, and is configured to cover (span) the rib bone joint. An instance of the pocket assembly 104 is positioned on each of the leg sections 110 of the garment assembly 102, and is configured to cover (span) the knee bone joint.

Preferably, the thread used in the garment assembly 102 includes an aramid high tenacity fire resistant thread. Any metal components are thermally protected from the skin of the user. The stress points are bar-tacked. The shirt collar has a protective portion. Zippers have heavy-duty brass components positioned on an aramid tape, with fire-resistant zipper teeth. A storm guard is provided over the zipper with a snap-closured mesh. Preferably, the arm cuffs of the garment assembly 102 are provided with snap closures.

FIG. 2 depicts a front view of an embodiment of the personal protective equipment 100 of FIG. 1.

In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 2, the garment assembly 102 includes light-reflective elements 114 that are positioned on and affixed to any one of the body section 108, the leg sections 110 and the arm sections 112 (in any combination and/or permutation thereof). The light-reflective elements 114 may include portions of light reflective tape of various colours (such as, yellow, silver, etc.). At least one or more of the light-reflective elements 114 may include light emitting devices, such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), and/or any equivalent thereof, that are configured to be powered by a battery (known and not depicted), and may also be operationally controlled by a controller (known and not depicted).

FIG. 3 depicts a rear view of an embodiment of the personal protective equipment 100 of FIG. 1.

In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 3, an instance of the pocket assembly 104 is positioned on (and affixed to) the garment assembly 102 (preferably, positioned on and affixed to a pant section of the garment assembly 102). The pocket assembly 104 is configured to cover (span) the tail bone joint (once the garment assembly 102 is worn, just so, by the user 900 of FIG. 1). Preferably, an instance of the pocket assembly 104 is spatially positioned on (and affixed to) each of the arm sections 112 of the garment assembly 102, and the pocket assembly 104 is configured to cover (span) the elbow bone joint.

FIG. 4 depicts a rear close-up view of an embodiment of the personal protective equipment 100 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 4, an instance of the pocket assembly 104 is positioned on (and affixed to) at least one of the arm sections 112 of the garment assembly 102. The pocket assembly 104 is configured to cover (span) the elbow bone joint (of the user 900 of FIG. 1, once the user 900 wears the garment assembly 102 just so). Preferably, the pocket assembly 104 is stitched to the garment assembly 102 (preferably along at least three sides) using a relatively high tenacity thread. The light-reflective elements 114 are positioned (aligned) to span across (at least in part) the pocket assembly 104. The touch fastener assembly 106 is positioned at the entrance of the pocket assembly 104 (leading into an interior formed by the pocket assembly 104).

FIG. 5 depicts a front close-up view of an embodiment of the personal protective equipment 100 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 5, an instance of the pocket assembly 104 is positioned on (and affixed to) at least one of the leg sections 110 of the garment assembly 102. The pocket assembly 104 is configured to cover (span) the knee bone joint (of the user 900 of FIG. 1, once the user 900 wears the garment assembly 102 just so). Preferably, the pocket assembly 104 is stitched to the garment assembly 102 (along at least three sides, for instance) using a relatively high tenacity thread. The light-reflective elements 114 are positioned (aligned) to span across (at least in part) the pocket assembly 104. The touch fastener assembly 106 is positioned at the entrance of the pocket assembly 104 (leading into an interior formed by the pocket assembly 104).

FIG. 6 depicts a rear close-up view of an embodiment of the personal protective equipment 100 of FIG. 1.

In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 6, an instance of the pocket assembly 104 is positioned on (and affixed to) the garment assembly 102 (preferably on a pant section of the garment assembly 102). The pocket assembly 104 is configured to cover (span) the tail bone joint (of the user 900 of FIG. 1, once the user 900 wears the garment assembly 102 just so).

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

It may be appreciated that the assemblies and modules described above may be connected with each other as required to perform desired functions and tasks within the scope of persons of skill in the art to make such combinations and permutations without having to describe each and every one in explicit terms. There is no particular assembly or component that may be superior to any of the equivalents available to the person skilled in the art. There is no particular mode of practicing the disclosed subject matter that is superior to others, so long as the functions may be performed. It is believed that all the crucial aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been provided in this document. It is understood that the scope of the present invention is limited to the scope provided by the independent claim(s), and it is also understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to: (i) the dependent claims, (ii) the detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments, (iii) the summary, (iv) the abstract, and/or (v) the description provided outside of this document (that is, outside of the instant application as filed, as prosecuted, and/or as granted). It is understood, for this document, that the phrase “includes” is equivalent to the word “comprising.” The foregoing has outlined the non-limiting embodiments (examples). The description is made for particular non-limiting embodiments (examples). It is understood that the non-limiting embodiments are merely illustrative as examples. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Personal protective equipment for use by a user having a bone joint, and for use with an armour member being configured to span across the bone joint, the personal protective equipment comprising: a garment assembly being configured to be thermally insulated and fire resistant; and the garment assembly also being configured to be worn by the user in such a way that the garment assembly, in use, spans across the bone joint of the user; and a pocket assembly being configured to be thermally insulated and fire resistant; and the pocket assembly being spatially positioned on, and affixed to, the garment assembly in such a way that the pocket assembly, in use, spans across the bone joint of the user once the user wears, in use, the garment assembly; and the pocket assembly being configured to securely receive the armour member in such a way that once the user, in use, wears the garment assembly and once the pocket assembly, in use, receives the armour member, the armour member spans across the bone joint of the user, and the armour member is securely positioned across the bone joint of the user, thereby improving protection of the bone joint against bone-joint injury resulting from a sudden impact force received by the armour member; and the pocket assembly also being configured to make direct contact with the sudden impact force received by the user in such a way that (A) the armour member never directly receives the sudden impact force while the armour member is received by the pocket assembly, and (B) the pocket assembly directly receives the sudden impact force that is transferred from the pocket assembly to the armour member; and the pocket assembly including a wear-resistant material being configured to resist wear as a result of the pocket assembly receiving the sudden impact force; and a touch fastener assembly being fixedly coupled to any one of the pocket assembly and the garment assembly; and the touch fastener assembly being configured to selectively securely open and close the pocket assembly in such a way that the armour member that is received in the pocket assembly is securely retained in the pocket assembly and is securely spatially positioned to span across the bone joint of the user; and the touch fastener assembly also being configured to selectively open and close the pocket assembly in such a way that the armour member that is securely received in the pocket assembly is entirely removable from the pocket assembly.
 2. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the bone joint includes any one of an elbow bone joint, a knee bone joint, a hip bone joint and a rib bone joint.
 3. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the armour member includes any one of a sheet of plastic material, a leather material, a metal plate, a composite material, and in any combination and/or permutation thereof.
 4. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the armour member is configured to provide a protective covering that is configured to prevent, at least in part, damage from being inflicted on the bone joint of the user.
 5. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the garment assembly includes a thermal insulation layer having a thermal-insulation fabric and a fire-resistant layer having a fire-resistant fabric material placed over the thermal insulation layer.
 6. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the pocket assembly includes a thermal insulation layer having a thermal-insulation fabric, and a fire-resistant layer having a fire-resistant fabric material placed over the thermal insulation layer.
 7. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the touch fastener assembly is also configured to be thermally insulated and fire resistant; and the touch fastener assembly includes a thermal insulation layer having a thermal-insulation fabric and a fire-resistant layer having a fire-resistant fabric material placed over the thermal insulation layer.
 8. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the touch fastener assembly includes any one of a snap fastener, a zipper, a VELCRO (TRADEMARK) connector, and in any combination and permutation thereof.
 9. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the garment assembly includes a coverall garment.
 10. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the garment assembly includes a body section with leg sections and arm sections extending from the body section.
 11. The personal protective equipment of claim 10, wherein an instance of the pocket assembly is positioned on the body section of the garment assembly, and is configured to span a rib bone joint.
 12. The personal protective equipment of claim 10, wherein an instance of the pocket assembly is positioned on each of the leg sections of the garment assembly, and is configured to span a knee bone joint of the user once the user wears the garment assembly just so.
 13. The personal protective equipment of claim 10, wherein the garment assembly includes light-reflective elements that are positioned on and affixed to any one of the body section, the leg sections and the arm sections in any combination and/or permutation thereof.
 14. The personal protective equipment of claim 13, wherein the light-reflective elements includes portions of light reflective tape of various colours.
 15. The personal protective equipment of claim 13, wherein at least one or more of the light-reflective elements includes light emitting devices configured to be powered by a battery.
 16. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein: an instance of the pocket assembly is positioned on and affixed to a pant section of the garment assembly; and the pocket assembly is configured to span a tail bone joint once the garment assembly is worn, just so, by the user.
 17. The personal protective equipment of claim 10, wherein an instance of the pocket assembly is spatially positioned on and affixed to each of the arm sections of the garment assembly, and the pocket assembly is configured to span an elbow bone joint.
 18. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the pocket assembly is stitched to the garment assembly along at least three sides using a relatively high tenacity thread.
 19. The personal protective equipment of claim 1, wherein the touch fastener assembly is positioned at an entrance of the pocket assembly leading into an interior formed by the pocket assembly. 